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This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12505B23Q0082 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2023-02. The associated NAICS code is 334519 - Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing; with a small business size standard of 500 employees and the PSC code is 6635. This solicitation is a 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside.

The Department of Agriculture (ARS) has the need for the following product(s):

001) Bench-Top Mechanical Property Tester System

Scope of Work:

The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS) Midwest Area (MWA) Administrative Office’s Acquisitions & Personal Property/Fleet Team on behalf of the USDA-ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR), located at 1815 North University Street, Peoria, IL 61604 is requesting quotes on a bench-top mechanical property tester system with software, grips and grip accessories necessary for tensile and flexural testing, installation, calibration, training, and warranty included.

Background:

This instrument will expand our capability to measure the properties of polymers and thus enhance our ability to target industrial applications for these materials. The new instrument will provide state-of-the art determination of mechanical properties of polymers and other materials. Such data is needed for fulfillment of project plan objectives relating to production of bio-based polymers from vegetable oils and other renewable materials.

Technical Requirements:

• Materials testing instrument.
  
  
  
  • Footprint suitable for bench-top operation: 24" x 24" x 48" (L x W x H) or smaller.
  
  
  • Software that operates the instrument and analyzes the data.
  
  
  • 1 kN load capacity or greater.
  
  
  • Capable of performing tensile testing that is compliant with ASTM D638.
  
  
  • Capable of performing flexural testing that is compliant with ASTM D790.
  
  
  • Power cord.
  
  
  • 120 V compatibility.
  
  
  
  


• Grips and grip accessories necessary for tensile and flexural testing.


• On-site installation, calibration, and training by a service technician.


• Standard one-year factory warranty.

Key Deliverables:

• Bench-Top Mechanical Property Tester


• Tensile Grip(s)


• Tensile Grip Accessories


• Flexural Grip(s)


• Flexural Grip Accessories


• Shipping/Freight/Delivery


• Installation


• Calibration


• Training

Delivery:

Delivery is expected within 120 days of award to the USDA-ARS NCAUR located at 1815 North University Street, Peoria, IL 61604.

Government will be present during delivery and installation of equipment. If needed, the government will supply a standard loading dock to accept delivery of the unit. The government will supply a location with suitable instrument requirements (space, electricity) as needed to operate the instrument. Given COVID restrictions, additional requirements will be in place for entrance to the lab. These will be communicated with the equipment supplier. Attempts will be made to ensure that safety is met for all parties and the equipment delivered in a timely manner.

Travel:

To the USDA-ARS NCAUR located at 1815 North University Street, Peoria, IL 61604 for on-site installation, calibration, and training by a service technician.

Contractor’s Key Personnel:

A service technician for the on-site installation, calibration, and training.

Security Requirements:

A copy of an official government photo ID (State-issued driver’s license or ID card, passport, green card, etc.) must be provided no later than one week before arrival of contract service technician(s) except in the case of emergency service, where only the name of the technician provided via email or telephone will be necessary. Security access to the NCAUR facility will be provided based on this identification requirement. Freight drivers must comply with NCAUR COVID-19 pandemic guidelines to include the wearing of face masks and maintaining 6 foot social distancing.

Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act Certification:

Offeror will represent that:

1. It will not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract or other contractual instrument resulting from this solicitation.


2. After conducting a reasonable inquiry, for purposes of this representation, the Offeror represents that It does not use covered telecommunications equipment or services, or use any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services.

Evaluation Factors:

Pursuant to FAR 52.212-2, the criteria for evaluation and basis for award will be Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable (LPTA). Technical acceptable is define as meeting ALL of the technical requirements identified on the Statement of Work and reiterated in the solicitation description. The Government intends to make one Firm-Fixed Price award based on the lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) quote received. "LPTA" means the best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable quote with the lowest evaluated price. The lowest priced quote will be evaluated first; if NOT found technically acceptable, the next lowest priced quote will be evaluated, and so on until a technically acceptable quote is identified. The Government will NOT review higher priced quotes if the lowest (or a lower) priced quote is determined to be technically acceptable.

Submitting a Quote:

Failure to demonstrate compliance with ALL instructions presented herein will constitute sufficient cause to reject a quote without further discussions. All responsible sources may submit a quote which will be put into considered for award.

Vendors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote in accordance with FAR 52.212-1. The applicable FAR clauses and provisions for this acquisition are included in the attachments to this solicitation. The Government anticipates making one Firm-Fixed Price award.

Vendors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote along with all other requested and required documentation (such as completed FAR clauses and provisions) to be included as part of ALL offeror’s responses. The quote should include any and all fees, charges, and/or surcharges. This will be a tax-exempt purchase.

The solicitation attachments include FAR clauses, a Statement of Work (SOW), Specifications, and FAR provisions. Be sure to read and review ALL of the attachments and to complete any and ALL additional documentation required as part of your quote submission. Of critical importance is to review the SOW as it contains the requirements for this acquisition.

In addition, all submissions should include the FAR clauses and provisions completed in their entirety. The FAR clauses and provisions constitute the terms and conditions for submitting a quote in response to this solicitation as well as the terms and conditions of the anticipated award. The FAR provisions apply to the solicitation and submission of quotes. The FAR clauses apply to the solicitation and submission of quotes as well as to the resulting award. The FAR clauses will be included as part of the resulting award. Please review ALL of the FAR clauses and provisions and be certain to complete all of the FAR clauses and provisions that require the offerors impute (i.e. all boxes are checked and all blanks are filled in).

Please ensure your quote will be current and that the price quoted will NOT expire for a minimum of 30 days.

To be eligible to be put into consideration for award, ALL vendors who respond to this solicitation must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a current and active registration at the time their quote is submitted. A vendor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220 or e-mail at www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number is required in order to register. Vendors must also include their UEI# on their quote.

The submission and payment of invoices on the resulting award will be made through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). As such, vendors must be currently registered or register in IPP in order to be able to submit and receive payment on invoices for the resulting award. Invoices to be billed quarterly in arrears.

Only electronic submissions made via email will be accepted (NO verbal quotes made by phone call, quotes submitted by USPS mail, or quotes submitted in the body of an email). Please email all quotes in writing along with completed FAR clauses and provisions as well as ALL other requested and required documentation to aaron.dimeo@usda.gov by NO later than Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 5:00 PM Central Time (CT).

NOTE: Be absolutely certain to reference the RFQ number “12505B23Q0082” and/or title of the solicitation “Bench-Top Mechanical Property Tester System” in the subject, body, and/or attachments on your quote submission email to ensure your submission can be located and attributed to this solicitation. Failure to do so could potentially result in your submission being deemed “unresponsive” and as a result your quote may NOT be put into consideration for award (as your quote may NOT be located when searching the recipients email to ensure all responses to the solicitation have been logged before making an award determination).

Attachments/Links